Spring/Summer Fashion 2009: Bahar Shahpar

Jasmin Malik Chua
Living / Style
May 21, 2009

Photo credit: Bahar Shahpar

From New York City's own Bahar Shahpar comes another cohesive, well-edited collection for Spring 2009. And if anyone can make gold, brown, and teal work together, it's Shahpar, who harmonizes earthy neutrals with generous glugs of off-the-wall color, luxurious silk with organic cotton, to create a line that is elegance, whimsy, and femininity rolled into one.To make an instant statement, throw on the linen crook-sleeve jacket with dramatic geometric front drapes. Or show off those fabulous gams in an abstract-print cocktail dress with a plunging cowl back. If you're feeling provocative, slip into the strappy Gauntlet tank with look-but-don't-touch cut-outs, then pair it with ragamuffin bloomers or dressy slacks, depending on where you measure on the frivolity meter that day.

For Shahpar, it's the surprising little details that count: Side-ruching on a pair of pantaloons, suspenders that tuck under the pant legs of a jumpsuit, jaunty little pockets on the side of a pencil skirt, and hiked-up hems embellished with oversize buttons.